Student turned author returns to Pioneer School

Allison Shoemaker, who once attended preschool classes at the Pioneer School, reads from her children’s book “Mr. Rooster and his Magic Hammer” Wednesday at the school.(Photo: David Berman/Gazette)Buy Photo

CHILLICOTHE – Before it was a children’s book, “Mr. Rooster and his Magic Hammer” began as a college writing assignment completed less than two hours before it was due.

The book’s author and illustrator, Allison Shoemaker, was a freshman at Ohio University in Athens when she wrote the first draft of a story about a rooster who loses his magical hammer. The writing prompt was to create a silly, one-paragraph narrative incorporating a hammer, a rooster, a padlock and fireworks, she said.

Shoemaker’s professor ended up canceling the assignment, but the quirky tale she wrote “at the last minute” lives on.

“When I transferred from OU (to Southern State Community College), I still had the story and I decided to get it published,” said Shoemaker, who worked with WoolysWagon ePublishing, an independent publisher in California that released the book in paperback and electronic editions in October.

On Wednesday, Shoemaker visited the Pioneer School to read her book to a group of students with developmental disabilities. Diagnosed with autism at an early age, Shoemaker did not speak until age 7. Her visit Wednesday marked a return to the school where she spent two years in preschool. She spent the rest of her school career in Chillicothe City Schools, from which she graduated in 2013.

Asked how it felt to come back to the school, Shoemaker said it was strange before humming the theme to “The Twilight Zone.”

Shoemaker, 21, is now studying interactive media and simulation at Southern State.

“I’m still trying to figure out what it is I really want to do because there are a few things I want to do,” she said.

In the meantime, Shoemaker is busy at work on four books.

“I’m trying to see which one gets done first,” she said.

There’s no “Mr. Rooster” sequel planned, but if the first one does well, she said she wouldn’t be opposed to the idea.

If you go

Allison Shoemaker will be signing copies of her children’s book, “Mr. Rooster and his Magic Hammer,” from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday at Book World, 16 W. Water St. The book also is for sale in print and electronic formats on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble’s website.